Boat bailer



1961 D. D. NEWTON 2,972,956

BOAT BAILER Filed Jan. 17, 1958 INVENTOR! DEVAULSON D. NEWTON ATTORNEY inited This invention relates to self-operating pumps, and moreparticularly, to a self-operating bailer adapted to bail water from aboat into the body of water supporting the boat. This invention alsorelates to a method for removing water from a boat.

Heretofore, various means have been provided for removing water from avessel into another body of Water. Such means have included theconventional siphon, which is adapted to transfer water or liquid fromone body' to another at different elevations. However, the siphon isadapted to perform most efiiciently with stationary bodies of liquids.Another method comprises the use of a lift pump operated by a wind vaneactuating an cecentric mechanism. In order for this method to functionproperly, either the vessel or the wind must be moving rapidly in orderto provide suflicient power to actuate the pump. A further conceptcontemplates the use of a water wheel adapted to be turned by means ofWater moving over the wheel relatively to the speed of the boat orvessel. The turning wheel turns a series of shafts through the use ofpinions and the linkage turns or operates a conventional pump. Quiteobviously, a high rate of speed of either the boat or the water isrequired in order to derive the power necessary to move the linkage andoperate the pump. The apparatus is therefore somewhat limited to the usewith high-speed craft.

It is therefore a prime object of this invention to provide an apparatusfor bailing water from a boat directly as a result of the movement ofthe body of Water relatively to the position of the boat, or themovement of the boat relatively to the water, and wherein the onlyrequirement for operation is that the body of water be moving relativeto the boat.

A further object of this invention is to provide an apparatus which iscompletely independent in operation.

A further object of this invention is to provide a method for removingwater from a boat into the body of water supporting the boat.

In accordance with the foregoing objects there is provided an apparatusfor removing a liquid fromla vessel into a moving-stream of liquid,wherein either the stream of liquid or the vessel or both are movingrelatively to the movement of the other. The apparatus comprises animpeller rotatably mounted at an end of a hollowed body member connectedwith a volume of liquid to-be removed from the vessel. A hole isformed'through the length of the blade of the impeller. Liquid is drawnfrom the vessel into the body of the apparatus and is dischargedcentrifugally through the hole through the blade in the impeller. Themethod comprises the turning of the impeller by the stream of liquidmoving relatively to the movement of the vessel. Liquid enters. thepriming duct provided in the body of the apparatus and is dischargedthrough the hole 'inthe blade, whereincentrifugal force reduces thevolume of liquid in the body" of the invenrates herein Fatented Feb. 28,19%1 ice out, and a more complete understanding of the invention may behad from the following description, when read with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross section of the bearing.

Figure 3 is an elevation of the bearing.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal elevation of the impeller.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal cross section of the body.

Figure 6 is a plan view of a blade of the impeller.

Figure 7 is an illustration of an application of the invention.

An embodiment of the pump is illustrated in Figure 1, which isparticularly well adapted for use as a self-bailer for a boat or otherwater-borne vessel. This embodiment is merely illustrative of a singleapplication, and should not be construed as a limitation.

Figure 7 illustrates a boat 22 floating in a body of water 24. A volumeof water as has entered the boat such as by leaking or due to rain orthe like. The boat 22 is moving in a direction represented by arrow 23,which direction is in contrast to the direction indicated by arrow 25.The arrow 25 thus would represent the direction of a stream of waterrelative to the motion of the boat 22 represented by arrow 23.

The bailer or pump comprises an impeller 1 having one or more blades 2radially extended from the axis thereof. The impeller 1 is rotatablymounted on a bearing nut S which is fastened into one end of a bodymember 12. A pipe member 18 is fastened into one end of a body member12, and extends any convenient distance therefrom. A flexible tubing 19connects the pipe 18 to an inlet plug 20 which is placed in the volumeof liquid 26 in the boat or vessel 22. A hole is provided in the inletplug 20 for admitting liquid into the tube 19 and thence into the pipe18 and thus ultimately into the interior of the body member 12. A cagebody 16 is supported by means of rods 17 extended from the body 12 so asto protect the impeller from objects in the body of liquid in which theimpeller is placed.

Figures 3, 4 and 5 illustrate the assembly of the bearing nut 3,impeller 1 and body 12, respectively. The body 12 is formed from anysuitable rigid material and has formed therein an axial bore 13. Aninlet hole 15 connects the bore 13 with the pipe 18, the pipe beingfastened therein by any suitable means such as a threaded connection. Apriming duct 14 is formed in the body 12 so as to connect the interiorbore 13 with the outside of the body 12, around which Hows the movingstream of liquid (not shown).

The impeller 1 has a central hole, and in this hole is press-fit abushing 5 having a bearing surface 6 on the interior thereof. Nut 8 hasa bearing surface 9 formed thereon which is adapted to receive in arotatable manner the bushing 5 so that the surfaces 6 and 9 are matingsurfaces. The impeller '1 is placed over the bearing surface 9 of thenut, and the nut 8 is then fastened into the end of the body 12 by anysuitable means such as screw threads or the like. H I

Figures 2 and 3 illustrate the bearing nutas having a longitudinalcentral hole 10 extending a portion ofthe way through the nut from oneend thereof- When the nut 3 is placed in the endof the body member 12,the open end of the hole 1%} is connected with the bore 13 in the body12. Holes 11 connect'the hole 16 of the nut with the bearing surface 9thereof. The -holes 11 are formed in any suitable pluralitythereof, aswill later appear.

The protective cage 16 is formed from a piece of rigidcylindricalmaterial, and is supported from the body 12;

by means of a plurality of rods 17 fastened in suitable holes. in thebody and fastened to the cage body 16.

Figures 1, 4' and oiillustrate the special adaptation of a blade 2 ofimpeller 1. A hole 3 is formed through the blade 2 radially from thecenter of the impeller. The hole 3 is thus formed through the side ofthe bushing 5 and longitudinally the length of the blade 2 and opens tothe outer end of the blade. It will be noted that the hole 3 isformedsubstantially in the center of the blade 2. Arrow 21 shows thedirection of rotation of the blade 2. The portion 4 of the end of theblade 2 is beveled and the bevel extends back away from the direction ofrotation of the blade from the hole 3 to the trailing edge 7A of theblade.

The blade 2 of impeller 1 is formed in the conventional manner and isadapted to be rotated on its axis by a stream of liquid moving past thepump. A pitch is imparted to the blade of the impeller so that the bladehas a leading edge 7 and a trailing edge 7A. This is well known in theart, and forms no part of this invention other than being required inorder for a moving stream of liquid to cause the impeller to turn on itsaxis.

It will be assumed that there is a vessel 22 containing a volume ofliquid 26. In the vicinity of the vessel there is another body of liquid24. It is desired that the volume of liquid 26 in the vessel 22 beremoved into the body of liquid 24, in the vicinity of the vessel. Atthis point, it will become immediately apparent that the boat may bestationary and the liquid be moving, as in a current or stream.Alternately, the liquid may be at rest, and the boat be moving throughthe liquid; or both the boat and the liquid may be moving in a directioncontrary to each other.

To operate the pump, the body 12, impeller, nut 8 and the cage 16assembled together are lowered beneath the surface of the liquid 24 as aunit and supported thereat by any conventional means such as a retainingchain, cable, bracket, or the like, as at 27. The inlet plug 29 isplaced beneath the surface of the volume of liquid 2e in the boat 22,preferably at the bottom of the volume. The pipe 18 and the flexibletube 19 connect the plug 20 with the pump assembly.

For purposes of discussion, it will be said that the body of liquidforms a stream moving relatively to the vessel, and therefore relativeto the pump. The stream is moving right to left, Figures 1 and 7. Aportion of the stream enters the priming duct 14 and flows into thecentral bore 13 of the body 12. The stream also flows past the-blade 2of the impeller 1 and causes the impeller to turn on its axis due to thepitch of the blade 2. It will be noted that, inasmuch as the bushing 5is press-fit into the hub of the impeller, the bushing 5 turns with theimpeller, the two turning on the bearing surface of the nut 8. In theembodiment shown, there are three blades 2. It has been found that withthis particular number'of blades, it is to the advantage of theefiiciency ofthe pump to form preferably six holes 11 in the bearing 8,the holes extending radially fromthe axis of the bearing to the bearingsurface 9. As the impeller turns, the holes 11 arein communication withthe holes 3 formed in'the blades of the impeller.

As the liquid flows into the priming duct 14 and into the bore 14 of thebody 12, the bore 13 will become filled and the liquid will flow intothe hole 19 of the nut S and out through holes 11 into the holes 3. -Theliquid will then be discharged into the body of liquid or stream due tothe centrifugal force of the turning blades 2. As the entire. area ofthe holes 3 is greater than the area of the priming duct 14, the liquidin the pump will tend to be discharged at a rate greater than itisiadapted to enter through the priming duct 14. A condition of reducedpressure in the body of the pump will be thus produced,

with respect to the pressure of the body of liquid outside otthc pump.Dueto this condition of reduced pressure,

bore 13 and be discharged through the holes 3 in the blades 2 of theimpeller 1.

Inasmuch as liquid is being continuously discharged through the holes 3in the impeller, a condition of low pressure relative to the pressure ofthe body of liquid tends to be constantly formed in the body of thepump. Therefore, liquid will be constantly drawn through the pipe fromthe vessel until all of the liquid is removed. By reason of the factthat the area of the inlet 15 and pipes 18 and 19 is greater. than thatof the duct 14, and due to the fact that the area of the holes 3 is alsogreater than that of the duct 14, the volume of liquid will flow fromthe vessel through the pump at a greater rate than that of the portionof the body of liquid entering through the duct 14. Therefore, once thepump has primed itself by means of liquid entering the duct 14, theoperation will become highly efficient due to the negligible flow ofliquid through the duct 14, and the relativel} higher rate of flowthrough the pipe 18 from the vessel.

The portion 4 of the blade 2 which is beveled further aids the pump inoperating efiiciently. As the blade moves in an arc in the direction ofthe arrow 21, it will be seen that portion 4A lies in an arc of greaterradius than that of portion 4. That is to say, a hydrodynamic slipstream of reduced relative pressure is created at portion 4 with respectto portion 4A. Since any liquid will be displaced from a given point toa point of lesser relative pressure, liquid being discharged from thehole 3 in blade 2 is adapted to be more efliciently displaced into theslipstream adjacent the impeller bla'de due to the area of reducedrelative pressure immediately adjacent the opening of the hole atportion 4 of the blade, and trailing back to the trailing edge 7A of theblade.

It will become readily apparent that this invention may be modified sothat the pump assembly may be adapted to be inserted into a pipe line orthe like. In certain piping applications, it is necessary to have anoverflow system with a catch basin. Due to the inherent simplicity ofthis invention, the device is adapted to be placed in a pipe line andsealed therein. The inlet pipe would be placed in the catch basin sothat as the liquid in the line overflows into the catch basin, the pumpwould automatically scavenge the liquid and return it to the pipe lineas pressure and velocity conditions in the line reach a point whichwould permit the low-velocity re-entry of the liquid into the pipe line.Thus, in the case of expensive or volatile liquids, a sealed catch basinmay be employed, whereby the overflow may be recovered uncontaminated,and expensive or volatile liquids may be recovered at a minimum loss.

Due to the inherent simplicity of the invention, virtually nomaintenance is required other than an occasional inspection. The pump isself-lubricated by the liquid being pumped. A loose fit is providedbetween the bushing and the shaft or bearing portion of the nut. Thewater being discharged through the holes in the nut is adapted to alsofill the space between the bushing and the nut, due to the slightvelocity and pressure of the water. son, the bushing is kept spaced fromthe bearing surface of the'bearing nut, and wear of the parts is thusminimized. The parts ofthe'invention are constructed from material whichis chemically inactive with the liquid being pumped so. as to resistcorrosion; and the bushing 5 is formed from a material which has goodwearing characteristics in conjunction with the-liquid being pumped.

The pump is necessarily a low volume-low velocity pump. However, thevolume and velocity of delivery or discharge of the liquid islimited-only by the speed of rotation of the impeller, and the size ofthe inlet and the size of the holes through the impeller blade. Thus,the velocity of the stream of'water'about the blade ultimately governsthe velocity of discharge of the pump.

An embodiment of the pump has been tested in conjunction witha smallpleasure boat for purposes of bailing, and it has beenrfound that watercan be lifted several For this rea- 1 feet over the side of the boatwith the boat moving through the Water at a relatively slow speed.

An embodiment having been shown and described for the purposes ofillustration only, it is to be understood that the invention is not tobe limited to the embodiment shown, but it is to be construed as fairlyfalls within the true spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. In a boat bailer the combination of; a body member having an axialbore therethrough and a priming duct formed between said axial bore andthe outside of said body member, one end of said body member beingconnected with an inlet, a bearing nut fastened into one end of saidbody member, said bearing nut having an axial hole therein and atransverse groove having holes therethrough communicating with saidaxial hole, an impeller rotatably mounted on said bearing nut, saidimpeller having a blade having a radial hole formed therethrough inalignment with said groove, said impeller being adapted to be rotated bymovement of a body of water relative to the movement of the vesselretaining said bailer whereby the radial hole in said blade is incommunication with the transverse groove and holes in said nut and wateris adapted to flow through said bailer from said inlet and be dischargedcentrifugally from said impeller.

2. In combination with a body member of a boat bailer; an impeller, ablade on said impeller, a hub forming part of said impeller having anaxial hole therethrough, a bushing placed in said hub, said blade havinga radial hole formed therethrough, a bearing nut having an axial holetherein and a transverse groove having holes therethrough communicatingwith said axial hole, said impeller being mounted rotatably on saidbearing nut with its radial in alignment with said groove, said bearingnut being mounted in one end of the body member of the boat bailer; saidimpeller being adapted to be rotated on said nut by movement of a bodyof water relative to the movement of a boat carrying said bailer fordischarging water from said bailer centrifugally through the radial holein said blade.

3. A boat bailer comprising an impeller, a blade on said impeller, abody member having an axial bore formed therein, said body member havinga priming duct between the axial bore and the outside surface of said 1body member, said impeller being rotatably mounted at ment with saidgroove whereby the openings in said groove are in communication with theradial hole in said blade.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,120,858 Davant June 14, 1938 2,684,635 Winkelman et al July 27, 19542,689,541 Williams Sept. 21, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 87,173 SwitzerlandAug. 18, 1936 905,544 France Dec. 6, 1945

